Under the Hood with Angelo Van Bogart

No rubbing in this racing

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:30:54 GMT

Traditionally, cars participating in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club's annual reunion only get up to about 15 mph during the event parade, but these thoroughbreds were meant to go much faster. For the first time in the event's 55 years, ACD cars were actually encouraged to go more than 55 mph.

Honoring the fact that this year's ACD Club Reunion featured Duesenbergs, a special Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed & Stinson Fly In was held Sept. 3 at the Kendallville Municipal Airport in Kendallville, Ind. Students and teachers lined the road to the airport in anticipation of the informal parade of Duesenbergs driving to the airport. Cars and trucks bearing license plates from around the country crept bumper-to-bumper into the airport, their owners then lining a red tape along the tarmac for hours before the first car took off. And owners itched for the chance to open up their cars on a closed road course.

By my count, around 35 cars appeared at the airport, and most of those cars' straight-eights were put through the paces. Initially, cars drove down the runway one at a time at a leisurely pace to warm up the engines, but soon, they were going down two at a time, each time the driver nudging the other to go a little faster. Soon, the announcers's descriptions couldn't keep up cars flying down the tarmac. Richie Clyne (whose maroon Judkins-coupe bodied Duesenberg appeared at the top of this web page) poured bleach on the tarmac, then spun his car's tire at one launch. Drivers began grudge matches to see who was faster.

For the Classic car fan with a love of primitive speed, there probably isn't anything that could beat this year's exhibition of speed. Since next year is likely to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cord 810, maybe we'll see front-drive Cords at the Kendallville airport. You just never know.

Yes, even the ex-Clark Gable Bohman & Schwartz-modified Rollston convertible coupe made a run or two down the track. Owner Sam Mann also brought a Duesenberg-powered racecar, which made a run or two. The car is shown at the airport before the Duesenbergs made their runs.

Buck Kamphausen expected to take this Duesenberg around the world in the 2008 races which were canceled, so he had the car fitted with tools, spare parts, sirens and even a winch. None of those parts were necessary during the race, but the car sure stirred a lot of comments.

These Duesenbergs are stored in Wisconsin not far from each other, but reunited outside the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum before departing for the Kendallville Municipal Airport. That's Dave Lindsay's Murphy Convertible Sedan (J-131) and Jim Schneck's Brunn Riviera (J-525). Each was recently featured in Old Cars Weekly.

I love the opportunity Auburn presents to see a car for the first time, and I have never spotted Bill Petit's LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton before. She's a beauty, and not too pretty to run wide open, as Petit proved on the airport tarmac after this shot was taken.

Richie Clyne of the Imperial Palace Auto Collections and his son drove this Judkins coupe 1200 miles from New Hampshire to attend the event. Once there, the kid came out in Clyne who poured bleach on the tarmac before accelerating down the runway.

You don't often get to see a "project" Duesenberg, but there are a few out there, including this Rollston-bodied town car (or "cabriolet" in Duesenberg speak). Richard Fass of Stone Barn restorations owns the car and is currently restoring it.

Author Clive Cussler brought his beautiful and original Rollston Landaulet to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Reunion, where it was shot in Eckart Park before the Parade of Classics through Auburn on Sept. 4.

Seven Electrics featured at Milwaukee Masterpiece

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:36:37 GMT

You might get to see one Nomad here, a single Duesenberg there and a lone Crown Victoria over yonder, so when you can see a large number of a rare or unusual type of call all in one place, that's quite a treat.

OCW reader Dave Lefeber did just that when he helped gather some rarely seen early cars for an upcoming event. Read what he has to say below...

Seven Electrics featured at Milwaukee Masterpiece

By Dave Lefeber

In what is believed to be a first for a concours d’elegance, the Milwaukee Masterpiece will feature a display of electric vehicles among the 175 rare and exotic cars to be shown along Lake Michigan at Veteran’s Park Aug. 21-22.
Along with the likes of Duesenberg and Ferrari, the show will feature seven electric vehicles from five different manufacturers, all in a class of their own, and all seeing a resurgence in interest as their technology becomes relevant to the American driver.

“Electrics,” as these electric-powered vehicles are often called, were originally designed as luxurious commuter cars for the well-to-do in the early 1900s. Many of them had very fine interiors along with a crystal vase for fresh-cut flowers. The cars were mostly enclosed, tall, stagecoach-appearing vehicles with tiller steering. Wealthy doctors and women were the primary purchasers of electrics, these cars did not have to be started with a dangerous crank nor did they require strong arm, plus they were reliable and most had a range of 50 to 100 miles on a single charge.

Representing the electric class will be a 1908 Pope-Waverly Model 69-B roadster, a 1910 Baker victoria roadster, a 1915 Detroit, a 1916 Rauch & Lang J6 Dual Drive coach, a 1917 Milburn Light brougham, a 1929 Detroit Model 98FD brougham and a 1932 Detroit Model 97 coupe. This will be one of the largest groups of old electrics ever on public display. There will also be a raffle drawing on both Saturday and Sunday for a ride in the 1929 Detroit. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Jewish Family Services, the beneficiary of the Milwaukee Masterpiece.

When arriving at the show grounds on Sunday, watch for the electrics to silently arrive and depart or you just might miss them.

For more information, go to www.milwaukeemasterpiece.com

Getting' down at the Shakedown

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:16:22 GMT

The Symco Shakedown was hot, and it wasn’t from the flames painted on all the tin and the skin. Scoffing rain threats and sweltering humidity, cool cats and hot mommas from across the good ol’ U.S. of A. brought out a bunch of mean machines to make the second event bigger ‘n’ better than ’09.

If you’re not hip to the happenings in Symco, Wis., the second week of August, here’s all you need to know: This tiny central-Wisconsin village hosts pre-1965-style hot rods and customs in the park-like setting of an old-time village filled with automotive artifacts for fun with beer, brats, bands and buddies. The emphasis is on “traditional” hot rods (not rat rods): That means the kind of cars you’d see on the “little pages” of magazines of the 1950s and early ‘60s, before cool meant billet parts and taking a rusty chain against your Model A’s body to make it look weathered.

Just down the road, the Iola Old Car Show staff hosts its vintage military show, so I took my sweet time heading to Symco this year, but I managed to catch a number cool customs at the Shakedown. While I dig a cool ‘rod, especially the historic and historic-looking rods we sometimes feature in Old Cars Weekly, I’m more a custom car guy. (That’s not shocking if you already know I collect finned Caddys.) As a custom fiend, the choicest rods on the Symco Union Thresheree grounds were the long-and-low 1955 Lincoln that I saw slither in Saturday afternoon, and the true time warp 1950 Buick fastback. The Buick custom kept low with a chop reportedly done by the Ayala brothers after Sam Barris refused to chop another '50 Buick fastback after slicing and dicing his own.

If you’re not a custom car guy, don’t sweat it — I pointed my Kodak cam at a few other choice rides and posted their pics here. But don’t just look at the pics, make plans to head to Symco in 2011 — the venue is great, the cars are greater, and the old-skool rockabilly bands make it a party like no other.

This '50 Buick has a "wham, bam, thank you, ma'am" slam courtesy of the Ayala brothers. The work was done in the '50s, but a restoration in the 1980s removed its period powertrain for a cool-at-the-time small-block Chevy. Still one fine ride with a past.

This Buick's "got back," all right.

An oh-so-sweet For-Ty coupe. Love the paint, love the wheels and tires, love the stance. I'll fly this coupe any time.

A nice, suede '57 Chebby coupe with pre-production-type Two-Ten trim.

Righteous '55 Lincoln custom dropped to the ground, whacked roof and Lakes pipes with Lancer caps. Way cool.

It's a gas, all right. This period drag 'Vette still sports a 265-cid small-block to create the perfect nostalgia drag 1956 Corvette.

Other than a drop job and the five-spokes, this '64 Riv looks stock, but it's not. That's the beauty of many cocktail cruisers, including the Riviera — they are essentially "factory customs" and came cool out of the box. To keep 'em cool, you gotta be careful because it's easy to get gaudy. This 1964 Riviera was definitely one of the better mild Riv customs I've seen.

Iola turns green with vintage military vehicles, tractors

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:13:20 GMT

About one month after the Iola Old Car Show, the grounds get greener with the arrival of military vehicles from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars for the annual Iola Vintage Military & Gun Show with Vintage Tractors & Equipment. The vehicles start to appear early in the week even though the event starts on Friday, so here's a sneak preview of what's already here.

This year, there is a special treat: a sale of Old Cars Weekly founder Chet Krause's military vehicle collection. Aumann Auctions is hosting the sale and has the jeeps already on display. Below is a preview of the vehicles:

Best of the early 'Vettes

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:54:36 GMT

An early 'best buy'

Since I was big enough to look out the car window and spot the dusty 1960 Corvette in my neighborhood, I’ve been a straight-axle Corvette fan. Of those, I consider the V-8-powered 1955 Corvette the greatest for its combination of eight cylinders with styling worthy of the Motorama stage. However, they’re rare and they’re quite valuable. Along with first-year 1953s, 1955 Corvettes regularly fetch six-figure prices, but for the fan of very early Corvettes, there’s a lower-priced alternative — the 1954 Corvette roadster.

While some collectors pay big bucks for the privilege of owning a first-year 1953 or a V-8-powered 1955, the 1954 languishes with values at least 25 percent less than a 1955 model and a smaller fraction of a 1953. Yet, there’s virtually no external difference between the 1953 and 1954 Corvette. In fact, both can be had in Polo White with red interiors, but if that combo is not your flavor, Pennant Blue, red and black were also available colors in ’54. Also, the six-cylinder’s three carburetors were improved for 1954 and a new camshaft bumped up horsepower. For 1954, the Corvette was improved and Chevrolet expected to sell a lot and so it built a lot more. As a result, 1954 Corvettes are the most common from 1953-’55, which helps them remain the best deal.
Driver-quality or better 1954 ’Vettes are selling in the $30-50,000 range — that’s a big stack of $100 bills, but it’s the same or less than a new SUV or pickup. Before taking the plunge, research the cars carefully: ’54 ’Vettes are rare and so are parts, so buy the best car. After you jump in, keep it from becoming the “dusty” ’Vette in the neighborhood. Old ’Vettes are meant to be driven.

Related Resources

Read about famous 'Vettes in Corvette Masterpieces

Find Corvette data and specifications in the Standard Catalog of Corvette digital download

Identify parts in the Chevy Corvette Factory Part and Casting Number Guide

Join the Old Cars Weekly Insider's Club for subscription deals

Look up 1953 Corvette technical data and values in Old Cars Report

Look up 1954 Corvette technical data and values in Old Cars Report

Look up 1955 Corvette technical data and values in Old Cars Report

The unique 1955 Corvette V-8 emblem.

A Gypsy Red 1955 Corvette V-8 at the 2010 Iola Old Car Show.

Bugatti Atlantic to appear at Mullin Automotive Museum

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:38:31 GMT

Remember that Bugatti Atlantic that sold for $30-40 million last May? (Click here for a refresher.) Well, its undisclosed buyer remains undisclosed, but the car is soon going to be more visible when it makes its first public appearance since changing hands, and it's doing so at a most appropriate place: The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif.

Read on for the details, dear reader:

WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE AND SIGNIFICANT AUTOMOBILE TO BE DISPLAYED AT NEW MULLIN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM

1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic masterpiece available for public viewing beginning Aug. 10, 2010

Oxnard, Calif. (August 3, 2010) — The Mullin Automotive Museum, an institution that celebrates the Art Deco and Streamline Eras with exquisite French Art and automobiles, announced today that beginning August 3, 2010, the museum will temporarily display the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, formerly owned by the Williamson family of Lyme, New Hampshire. The Atlantic, recognized as one of the world’s most significant automobiles, will be prominently displayed at the Mullin Automotive Museum for a limited time only.

Over the past four decades, the Bugatti Atlantic has seldom been seen publicly, so its presence at the Mullin Automotive Museum will provide a rare insider’s view at the legendary vehicle for generations of enthusiasts.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to display the Bugatti Atlantic at our Art Deco museum,” said Peter Mullin, founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum. “The Art Deco Movement was driven by people who were fascinated by invention and innovation - by the exotic nature of new technology and materials, by art and design, by speed and by the machine - no automobile captures this spirit more than the Bugatti Atlantic. In the historic pantheon of automobiles the Atlantic is without peer.”

The Atlantic was an automobile derived from Bugatti’s prototype “Aerolithe Electron Coupe”, a vehicle that caused a sensation when unveiled at the 1935 Paris Auto Salon. From its inception, the Atlantic defined exotic. It was radical both in its design and engineering. Jean Bugatti produced the Atlantics spectacular sculpted appearance using riveted aluminum panels that he mounted on Bugatti’s most sophisticated, powerful and revolutionary Type 57S chassis. While only three Atlantics were built, this car (chassis #57374) is the first in the series, widely believed to be the most original and correct in form. It was built in 1936 and many suggest that parts from the Aerolithe prototype were used in its production. This car’s first owner Lord Victor Rothschild of London, ordered the car in light blue, with dark blue interior.

In 1939, the car was sent back to the Bugatti factory to be fit with a supercharger. Bob Oliver of Los Angeles was the second owner. Dr. Peter Williamson then purchased the car in 1971, for $59,000, a world record price at the time. Over many years, he respectfully restored the car to its 1939 specification. In 2003, the car made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it was awarded the prestigious honor of “Best in Show”.

The vehicle was recently purchased again in 2010 through a private sale.

“This car is an icon - representing the apex of all automotive design and engineering,” said Julius Kruta, Head of Bugatti Tradition.

The Mullin Automotive Museum opened its doors to the public April 15 and focuses its collection on French art and automobiles of the 1920s and 30s. Central to the Mullin Automotive Museum’s mission is Peter Mullin’s belief in the importance of sharing his collection with the public outside of the confines of a closed private collection.

Oldest known Plymouth to be auctioned Aug. 7

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:10:39 GMT

You don't see them too often, but there are a few Plymouths here and there and you have to look for them. A sharp eye will spot a minivan or a Neon or, if you're really sharp (and a little twisted), even an old K-car bearing the Plymouth name. Hard to believe, but it's been almost ten years since the last Plymouth-badged car was produced and they are disappearing fast.

At the other end of Plymouth history is the first Plymouth model (technically
"Chrysler Plymouth"), the Model Q, built in July 1928. On Aug. 7 of this year, what Scribner Auction Ltd. identifies as the oldest-known Plymouth Model Q to remain in existence — the 287th built — will be sold to the highest bidder. The Alberta-based auction company identified the Plymouth as serial number GP028L and states that Plymouth Owners Club membership secretary and treasurer/Plymouth historian Jim Benjaminson has verified this car as the earliest known Plymouth.

The auction company's pictures show the car to be solid and largely intact, but probably not nice enough to leave as-is. There is paint missing from the rear and front of the car, the windshield is broken, the fenders appear to have a "spray bomb" primer job and that's just the start. However, the car runs and it certainly appears to be worthy of restoration, earliest Plymouth or not.

So, what will it bring? "First" and "lasts" are hard enough, but "earliests" and "oldests" are even harder. With the possibility of one or more of the 286 earlier Plymouths coming to light, this car may not remain the eldest Plymouth forever. Still, I'll generously estimate (some would say very generously estimate) this car gets a high bid of $12-15,000. Hopefully, its new owner is a Plymouth Owners Club member or becomes one.

Pix from Scribner Auction Ltd.
Box 3226
Wainwright, AB T9W 1T2
Phone: 780-842-5666
www.scribnernet.com

The serial number of the Plymouth. Awful short bu today's standards. And where's the UPC bars?

By the way, the May-June issue of The Plymouth Bulletin (publication of the Plymouth Owners Club) is particularly good, and not just because an Old Cars Weekly story appears in it. There are neat pix of a Peking-to-Paris 1938 Plymouth with an unusual fastback body (Australian perhaps?), the 1935 roadster and 1947 coupe of a New Zealand member, and a member's adventures in a 1931 Plymouth two-door sedan. The Plymouth Bulletin is in the top eschelon for content among the hundreds, if not 1,000-plus publications we receive for Golden Quill competition. If you collect or just have an interest in Plymouths, the publication is a requirement.

RELATED RESOURCES

Decode MoPars with the HEMI and Wedge V8 Factory Casting Number and Code Guide, 1951-1999

Read the Standard Catalog of Chrysler CD

Read Mopar: The Performance Years

Read the Standard Catalog of '50s Chryslers

Read the Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars

Identify cars with the American Car Spotter's Bible book

Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805-1942

Get Plymouth values with the new 2011 Collector Car Price Guide

Simeone's Corvette Grand Sport to hit the pavement

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:52:35 GMT

It must be great to live in Philadelphia, with such proximity to the Simeone Foundation Museum. One example of that privilege will occur at noon on Saturday, Aug. 7, when the Simeone Museum hosts its second "Legends of Motorsport" event and feature a car that, the museum says, "everyone has been waiting for: the Corvette Grand Sport." This exceedingly rare racing sports car - one of only five ever built by General Motors - was previously owned by Philadelphians Roger Penske and George Wintersteen.

This event, sponsored by Chapman Chevrolet, will begin with a presentation in the main exhibit area on the development and history of the Grand Sport by Dr. Simeone. He will then be joined by Mr. Wintersteen who will tell how he came to acquire the car from Penske and what it was like to race it in the 1966 USRRC series.

When the presentation is finished, this beast will be fired up to demonstrate why many felt this was the car that could have beaten the Cobras.

A 1996 Grand Sport will also be on display, as well as a new 2010 GS from Chapman Chevrolet. The Simeone Museum welcomes all Corvette clubs to come to this event with their cars. If you would like to park in a reserved space in the back lot, please call Harry Hurst at 215-365-7233 to make arrangements. Space is limited.

Simeone Foundation Museum

6825-31 Norwitch Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19153

(215) 365-SAFE (7233)

A true beast: the Corvette Grand Sport.

SEMA Legisltative alert: Massachusetts

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:55:13 GMT

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT (UPDATE)
Pro-Hobbyist Massachusetts Street Rod and Custom Vehicle Bill Approved by House; Moves to Senate

A version of SEMA model legislation (H.B. 4871) to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, custom vehicles, replicas and specially constructed vehicles was passed by the Massachusetts House. The bill will now be considered by the full Massachusetts Senate. H.B. 4871 defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Replica vehicles are defined as assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that replicate an earlier year, make and model vehicle. Specially constructed vehicles are those reconstructed or assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that have an exterior that does not replicate or resemble any other manufactured vehicle.  The bill allows replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing both the year in which the vehicle was built and the make, model and year of the vehicle intended to be replicated.

We Urge You to Contact ALL Members of the Massachusetts Senate Immediately (List Below) to Request Their Support for H.B. 4871

·        H.B. 4871 provides specific registration classes and license plates for street rods, customs, replicas and specially constructed vehicles.

·        H.B. 4871 provides that specially constructed and replica vehicles which are registered on or before June 30, 2011 would be exempt from emissions inspection requirements. Specially constructed and replica vehicles registered after June 30, 2011 would be subject to emission control requirements based on the model year and configuration of the engine installed, whether the engine is an original equipment manufacturer’s production engine, rebuilt engine or crate engine.       Under the bill, if the model year of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle requires an onboard diagnostic (OBD) system, the vehicle would be subject to an OBD system emissions test applicable to the certified configuration, including any exclusions or exemptions otherwise granted to that certified configuration.

H.B. 4871 provides that a replica vehicle will be assigned the same model year designation as the production vehicle it is intended to replicate, in addition to the actual year it was built.

Please contact members of the Massachusetts Senate immediately by phone or e-mail to request their support for H.B. 4871.
Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.
Massachusetts State Senate

Senate President Therese Murray
Email: Therese.Murray@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1500

Senator Steven A. Baddour
Email: Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1604

Senator Frederick E. Berry
Email: Frederick.Berry@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1410

Senator Stephen M. Brewer
Email: Stephen.Brewer@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1540

Senator Stephen J. Buoniconti
Email: Stephen.Buoniconti@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1660

Senator Gale D. Candaras
Email: Gale.Candaras@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1291

Senator Harriette L. Chandler
Email: Harriette.Chandler@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1544

Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz
Email: Sonia.Chang-Diaz@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1673

Senator Cynthia Stone Creem
Email: Cynthia.Creem@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1639

Senator Sal N. DiDomenico
Email: Sal.DiDomenico@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1650

Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly
Email: Kenneth.Donnelly@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1432

Senator Benjamin B. Downing
Email: Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1625

Senator James B. Eldridge
Email: James.Eldridge@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1120

Senator Susan C. Fargo
Email: Susan.Fargo@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1572

Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan
Email: Jennifer.Flanagan@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1230

Senator Jack Hart
Email: John.Hart@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1150

Senator Robert L. Hedlund
Email: Robert.Hedlund@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1646

Senator Patricia D. Jehlen
Email: Patricia.Jehlen@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1578

Senator Brian A. Joyce
Email: Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1643

Senator Thomas P. Kennedy
Email: Thomas.P.Kennedy@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1200

Senator Michael R. Knapik
Email: Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1415

Senator Thomas M. McGee
Email: Thomas.McGee@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1350

Senator Joan M. Menard
Email: Joan.Menard@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1114

Senator Mark C. Montigny
Email: Mark.Montigny@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1440

Senator Michael O. Moore
Email: Michael.O.Moore@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1485

Senator Richard T. Moore
Email: Richard.Moore@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1420

Senator Michael W. Morrissey
Email: Michael.W.Morrissey@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1494

Senator Robert A. O'Leary
Email: Robert.O'Leary@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1570

Senator Marc R. Pacheco
Email: Marc.Pacheco@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1551

Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos
Email: Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1630

Senator Anthony Petruccelli
Email: Anthony.Petruccelli@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1634

Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg
Email: Stan.Rosenberg@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1532

Senator Richard J. Ross
Email: Richard.Ross@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1555

Senator Karen E. Spilka
Email: Karen.E.Spilka@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1640

Senator Bruce E. Tarr
Email: Bruce.Tarr@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1600

Senator James E. Timilty
Email: James.Timilty@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1222

Senator Richard R. Tisei
Email: Richard.Tisei@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1206

Senator Steven A. Tolman
Email: Steven.Tolman@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1280

Senator Susan C. Tucker
Email: Susan.Tucker@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1612

Senator Marian Walsh
Email: Marian.Walsh@state.ma.us
Phone: 617-722-1348

Around Lake Michigan in a Caprice

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:09:07 GMT

In the past 10 years, I've put 45,000 miles on my 1985 Chevrolet Caprice coupe, yet its longest journey has been from Iola, Wis., to the Twin Cities, a total of about 250 miles (500 miles round trip). Last weekend, I did more than 500 miles, and just in one direction, as I drove the car to the Concours d’Elegance of America at Meadow Brook.

After working on the Aug. 19 issue last Friday, I headed out with the Caprice toward Mackinac Bridge, but only got as far as Manistique in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After crashing for the night, I made it over the bridge the next morning, around 9 a.m., where this photo was taken, and then down to the Auburn Hills and Rochester area of Michigan for the concours.

Despite all the miles, all the bugs, all the intermittent rain showers and all the poor roads, the Caprice was treated like a king when it received its first valet treatment when I arrived and departed the concours gala event at the GM Heritage Collection where there were such treasures as the Y-Job, the 1953 LeSabre, a 1953 Olds Fiesta, the last 2007 Monte Carlo, Cadillac V-16 dual-cowl phaeton and even a wonderful 1955 Cadillac Coupe deVille, probably the nicest I have seen.

For the return trip, I took the Caprice on the southern route around Lake Michigan and went through the Chicago Skyway. All told, it was a nice ride and the Caprice averaged 22-28.5 miles per gallon of fuel on the tanks I measured, depending on the route and the presence or absence of ethanol in the premium fuel I used.

Would I do it again? Sure, but I'd wait to have an alignment done before I left!

Driving a little off the road

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:14:05 GMT

This week, we're working on a 1950s issue of Old Cars Weekly, but I couldn't help but driving a little on the shoulder by including a prewar car story. In this case, the car is a Duesenberg, one of my favorite marques. It's also a very special Duesenberg, being the only one with engine turning on all of its aluminum components under the hood. When I bought the photo below several years ago, it was for the purpose of writing up this car. I have included it here as a teaser:

The Duesenberg to be featured in the Aug. 19 issue of OCW is owned by Jim Schneck of Wisconsin, and if you want to see it in person, you'll have two chances this summer. The car will be at the Milwaukee Masterpiece Aug. 21-22, which will honor Duesenberg historians Ray Wolff and Joe Kaufman and Duesenberg cars (including Schneck’s J-525). Learn more at www.milwaukeemasterpiece.com or call 414-225-1342.

The car will also appear at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club’s annual Reunion and the Ab Jenkins Memorial Exhibition of Speed Sept. 3 at the Kendallville (Ind.) Airport runway. Learn more at www.acdmeet.org.

Custom car legend Larry Watson dies

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:36:06 GMT

Larry Watson (b. July 21, 1939, d. July 20, 2010)

I can't say I ever met Larry Watson, but every time I see a Ford with flames licking past the doors or a panel-painted Pontiac, I can't help but think of the famous West Coast artist who applied his craft to the finest formed metal to come out of Detroit.

Watson was in the right place at the right time with the right skill. He was in LA during the 1950s, hanging around the shop of Sam and George Barris with other notables as Dean Jeffries and Von Dutch who, together, made Southern California in the 1950s that magical place and time.

Watson is probably best known for his custom 1950 Chevrolet two-door sedan, nicknamed "Grapevine," as it was the first car he striped. Others followed, including a new 1958 "Squarebird" to which he promptly applied panel paint and shortly thereafter, a candy apple red 1959 Cadillac with a silver top to which Watson applied scallops. Not surprisingly, this 1959 Cadillac is the car I always associate Watson with, not just because it's a Caddy, but because of its tasteful custom paint treatment, and because it probably reflects the pinnacle point in Watson's early (and triple-deuce quick) evolution of style, at least on his own cars: from striping to panel paint to scallops. Fadeaway and metallflake paint jobs followed in Watson's career, but those style of paint jobs (and the custom cars that went with them) have always been too heavy with the mods for my taste.

One of my favorite books in which to see Watson's work has always been Andy Southard and Tony Thacker's "Custom Cars of the 1950s" book. It's an older book that's heavy on the pictures so you won't learn a ton on Watson the man, but you'll definitely get a good flavor of the artist's talent. I suspect that's how a talented man would want it anyhow.